Police searching for three men suspected of stealing bags of cash, beating employee

Toronto police are on the lookout for three men suspected of robbing bags of cash from a security service and pistol whipping an employee.

The robbery, which took place April 14 at INKAS Security Service on Signet Drive, near Finch Avenue West and Highway 400, was caught by surveillance cameras that reveal two men entering the business, one of them armed with a silver hand gun.

Once inside they confronted an unarmed employee, beat him in the face, then took cash that was packaged in bags, said Staff Insp. Mike Earl. The men then left the scene in a charcoal-grey Honda Accord driven by a third male.

Although authorities haven’t confirmed how much money was taken, media reports have put the figure as high as $750,000, including cash fares from the TTC.

“Some of the funds that were stolen from this robbery very well could be from the TTC,” but could also have been from any number of other businesses served by the company, said Staff Insp. Earl.

But the money isn’t the primary concern, he said.

“What’s relevant to us is who these guys are and the victim of the robbery… The amount of money really isn’t an issue here, it’s who’s gone into this premises armed with a handgun, beat the individual that’s working there and stole the money.”

The victim in this case happened to not be armed, but the company does employ armed guards.

“Any time that individuals are going to take a gun and take on people that are already armed, it really heightens our concern,” said Staff Insp. Earl.

The victim was treated for his injuries in hospital and released.

The two suspects seen in surveillance images are described by police as black and are believed to be in their mid to late-twenties. They were wearing dark clothing and were covering their faces at the time of the robbery. There is no description for the third suspect, who drove the car.

Police are looking through security footage of the getaway car in the Finch and Weston Road area, and are asking for help from anyone who has information on the robbery, the suspects or the vehicle.

Police would not comment on how the thieves got into the building, for security reasons.